Discharge-valve.



G. S. BINCKLEY.

DISCHARGE VALVE.

APPLICATIQN FILED Nov.1a. 1914.

Patented .h 001;. 16, 1917.

" n 'lllllllll/ WITNESSEJS INVENTDR HI ATTRNElYf GEORGE S. BINCKLEY, 0FLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

'DISCHARGE-VALVE.

Specification of Letters .`E'ate111:.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

Application led November 18, 1914. Serial No. 872,763.

To all whom @'15 may concern.' I

Be it known that I, GEORGE SYDNEY BINCKLEY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and Stateof California, have invented new and useful Improvements inDischarge-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to high pressure water gates or discharge valvesfor controlling the discharge of large volumes of water at high heads.Such a condition exists at dams and outflow points of water systems ofvarious kinds. A serious problem with which hydraulic engineers havebeen confronted has been found in the tremendous velocity with whichthese large volumes of water flow from a reservoir or other impoundingstructure or basin, under high head, into either closed or open conduitsfor conducting the `water to points of consumption or use or furtherstorage. The unobstructed or unmodified discharge of such great volumesof water at high head, through gates of the kind heretofore used, oftenproduces tremendous effects by setting up a vibration that mayconstitute a danger to the masonry of dams andthe organization ofconduits, basins, ditches or other structures or impounding or conveyingmeans, and also produces the disturbing roar or noise which ordinarilyaccompanies such discharges. l/Vhen such violent discharges of water arepermitted damage to the gate structures and other discharging orconveying means is an inevitable result, due to the erosive action ofsilt, sand or other abrasives in the water. Thus, the problem has beento so control the velocity of the water as to limitv the effect of thecontained abrasives, and eliminate the dangerous vibration, and the roaror noise accompanyinga discharge at high velocity. l

A furtherproblem to be dealt with in this connection is that ofoperation or control of the gate itself, which is opposed to thepressures which in the aggregate are voften tremendous. Discharge gatesof this class are likewise subject to derangement due to the tremendouspressure andy tremendous Avelocities affecting the same. l

It is the object of the present invention to provide a discharge gate orvalve which will eliminate all of the objectionabler features abovementioned, which may be operated or controlled with eXtreme simplicityand but little manual eifort, whichI when once installed will operatefor practically an unlimited period of service without necessitatingrepair or replacement of parts, and which will generally provide for thedischarge of large volumes of water under widely varying heads at apredetermined maximum velocity, and in a noiseless, or substantiallynoiseless, vibrationless and non-wearing manner.

Further objects of the invention consist in the provision of a dischargegate or valve of the general character stated which will be relativelysimplev and inexpensive in construction and organization when yitsfeatures of superiority are taken into account, which will be unfailingand positive in operation, and which will be generally superior inefficiency and serviceability.

In carrying the invention into effect, I provide means whereby thedischarge or outflow of water may be primarily determined, such meansconstituting in effect va valve proper with which means are associatedcontrolling means determining the working position of such valve means,and also are associated means for modifying the velocity of theoutflowing water by converting a certain proportion of its kineticenergy into heat. These latter means are related in their effect to theseveral positions which the valve means can assume, sothat theconversion of such lkinetic energy into heat is related to the head ofwater supplying such kinetic energy.

- With the above and other objects in View, and the above generallystated meansy entering into the embodiment of the same, the inventionconsists in the novel and useful provision, formation, combination,association and inter-relation of parts, members and features, all ashereinafter described, shown in the drawing and linally pointed out Vinclaims.

In the drawing: Y Figure 1 is a central verticalsectional view of adischarge valve or Awater gate organized to embody the invention, thesame being indicated as installed in working position at the base of a'dam confining a body of water;

Fig. 2 is a detail transverse sectional View of the same, taken on theline 2-2, Fig. l; and,

Fig. 3 isanenlarged fragmentary detail view of a portion of the showingin Fig. 1, the valve being shown partially opened.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are designated by the samereference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawing,-the improved Water Igate ordischarge valve is shown as comprising valve means A and controlling oroperating means Bffor the valve means, such discharge valve having anintake orifice a and a discharge orifice b which may lead to the open orto a discharge conduit, pipe or the like c whereby the water may beconducted to a point of storage or use. C designates meansassociatcdzwith the valve meansA for convertingthe-kinetic energy o fthe moving water, taken from behind, the dam D orsome other source, inpart into heat, so as to reduce the velocity' of the'water received atthe orifice a and discharged at the orifice Z1, whereby the waterissuesat the discharge orifice o at a predetermined velocity, which Awill besuch thatdamaging vibrationor impact and noise of discharge will beeliminated. rlhe reductionl in` velocity through the performancev of4the function of the means 'C likewise lprevents derangement of theworking parts of the discharge valve, both by attack of the water itselfand ofsu'ch cutting ory abrading contentas the wafer may have. Thevelocity of the water being reduced, the operation 0r' control of thevalve means A itself isV rendered easier, requiring less voluntarycontrolling or operating effort. The cont-rol means Bautilizes water atlthe same head as that taken in at the orifice a, the amount of suchwaterat such head; admitted' to the valve means for thefpurposeofcontrolling the same being regulated by valve means CZ. rEhe water soutilized in the operation or control' of the valve means a is dischargedintothe outflowing stream of waterl issuing the orifice Z), and suchdischarge i's regulated as to its volume by valve means c. Leakage fromthe means Ck to the valve means a is likewise disposed of 'undercontrol; of; thegvalve means c and coperates withlthe water introducedunder control of the valve-meanscl in maintaining the valve meansgainproper working position, so that such valve means a will maintain itselfat all times toV provide the same outflow velocity atA the orifice Z) asrequired by changes in head of water admitted at the orifice a, inaccordance with the disposition of,v the valve; means CZ and c undervoluntary control; rJ'Qhus, with these valve means (Z and csetvoluntarily to provide for changes in head,lthe leakage factormentioned.v will cooperate with the valve controlling` water admitted bythe valve means CZ, to prevent materialfluctuation@of; the valvemeans afrom they position related to the head primarily determined by the valvemeans Z andthe Vhead obtaining atthatitime so that a greater or lesseffect always exists with respect to a corresponding greater or lesserhead, to

the end that a constant velocity of outflow of water at the orifice ismaintained.

.1r-respective of the inter-relation of the action of the leakage waterand the controlling water affecting thev valve means, A, the said valvemeans A are so organized. that theV material fluctuation of the valvemeans A, with the valve means Z and e set aspredetermined, isprevented'. c Y

In the particular construction and interrelation of parts, .members andfeatures shown in the drawing, the discharge valve orwater gate showntherein, including the means C, comprises a shell or casing 6 which is,flanged as at 7, torest uponthe floor of thereservoir or atthe base ofthe damstructure D, such, casing preferably being as shown materiallysurrounded by or embedded inthe masonry of the dam. includesan enlargedtop portion *6L and rela- The casingl (3*90 tively contracted bottomportion 6b, the top Y portion, having a detachable top plate or cover 6permitting installation of the con,- tained features, and the contractedbottom portionv 6b terminating in a discharge head G provided with thedischarge orificel b which may lead to the discharge pipe; or conduit.0. l/Vithin the topr plate or cover 6c is provided the inlet orifice c,centrally thereof, and coveredi by a suitable screen device 8.Stationedf within the contracted bottomportion 6b of the casing` 6 is acylinder 9the casing 6 being preferably likewise cylindrical, and suchcylinder 9l being concentric with the contracted portion .6b of thecasing 6. The valve means A., including a hollow cylindrical pistonvalve 10, is mounted to play within the cylinder 9 and having an annularoutwardly projecting rim 10d which has a workingfit within suchcylinder.` 9, its upwardv movement being limited by an annular intrudingseat 11 bolted to the cylinder Q-as-at 12;:the upward movement of theentire piston-valve 10 being simultaneously interrupted by a valve seat12'L atgthe orificea. The piston valve 10 is provided with a cylindricalstemy 13 which is guided; in the vertical playV of the valve l0, in acylindrical guide la fixedl tol or integral with the bottom of thecylinder 9, and ranging 'slightly above the zone of the rim 10m when thesamev is inl highest position. This steml?, isvprovidedv with a helicalexternal, grooveor channelA lL extendf ing throughout its entire length,and whereby the interior of the hollow piston valve 10 may communicatevariably with the: interiorfof thevalve stemV guide 14eV from thelowerend of which leads a discharge pipe 15 which is controlled by the valvemeans e. Communicating with the lower portion ofy the cylinder 9 is apipe 16 whereby water is admitted to thecylinder 9 under control of thevalve means d, such water being taken from the body thereof, thedischarge of which is controlled lby the valve means A. The valve'meansZ may comprise a puppet valve or other valve device 17 adapted to closeor open the pipe 16 coperating with a suitable seat 18 at the upper endof said pipe, such valve device having` a stem 19 whereby the positionof the valve device may be manually or otherwise controlled. The valvemeans c may comprise any suitable valve device 20, such as a plug valveor stopcock, having a stem 21 ranging 'in juxtaposition with the stem 19so that both valve devices 17 and 20 may be conveniently controlled fromthe same point or by the same operator or simultaneously.

The means C forconverting a portion of the kinetic energy of the waterVadmitted at the orifice a into heat, comprisesI a plurality ofconcentric H-shaped annuli Q2, separated by annular spaces 23 which atpoints are bridged by spaced webs 24 to hold the annuli of each suchgrid in assemblage; other spaced Webs 25 being provided beneath andabove the horizontal members of the H-shaped annuli to space each gridfrom the neXt adjacent grid, so that free circulationof water may takeplace through the annular spaces of all the grids, from the uppermost tothe lowermost of the same. and thence downwardly to the discharge head6d and the orifice thereof. r1`he innermost' and outermost annuli 22 ofcertain of the grids are mutilated toprovide for the proper verticalstaggered relation of the annular spaces 28 in the grids whichy are allto be-accommodated within the top portion 6a vof the casing 6 and tosubstantially fill such topy portion, with the exception of the spacewithin which the piston valve 10 is vertically movable. The top of thechamber within the top portion 6a of the casing 6 is devoid of the gridsf, as at 26, such chamber portion 26 being highest at the centralportion thereof and diminishingin height outwardly to provideproportionate distribution of the water to the annular spaces 23 in theuppermost grid f; and such annular spaces 23 may be of varying widths orcapacities as required to further establish a substantially evendistribution of the water throughout the whole system of grids.

I do not lay any claim to the specific operating means for the valvemeans A, and these operating means B for the valve means A maymanifestly be widely varied'in construction in accordance with theservice to be dealt with. p

The operation, method of use and advantages of the improved water gateor discharge valve constituting thepinvention will be readily understoodfrom the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing and the following statement In operation of thecontrolling means B, including the valve means' cl and e, the latter aremanually or otherwise set or changed in set to correspond to the head ofthe water received at the orifice a, and changes in such head, or tostation the valve 10. Normally the valve device CZ will be unseated topermit the column of water admitted thereby to the'cylinder 9 to holdtheV piston valve 10 seated, the valve device 20 being closed. If now itis desiredto pass water through the water gate or discharge valveembodying the invention, the valve device d will be brought intoposition with respect to its seat so that only the proper amount ofwater will be passedv through the cylinder 9 and circulated within thehollow piston valve'10 and discharged through the pipe 15, the valvedevice 2O being suitably opened for the purpose, to cause the pistonvalve `1() to leave its seat 12 sufficiently to establish propercommunication between the chamber containing the means Cin proportion tothe head of water supplied at the orifice a. The lower the head, thecloser is the valve device CZ brought to its seatand the wider is thevalvedevice 20 opened. |The total area of the upper working end of thepiston valve 10 is less than the total area ofthe inner surface lthereofplus the lower `working surface of the rim 10a, so that the piston valve10 may be held to its seat, as stated, when the valve means CZ is openedand the valve means e is closed. Now with the valve device e partlyopened, and the valve devi-ce cZ partly opened in proportion to the headof the water at the orifice a, water passes from the pipe 16'into thecylinder 9 and upwardly into the hollow piston valve 10, but ispermitted to escape from theI latter andV into the hollow guidellhthrough the helical chamber 18d upon the stem 13, and thenceoutwardly through the pipe 15 and past the valve device 20. Thispermits/the piston valve 10 to descend slightly; but as it does so moreand more of the passage 13a is cut off from direct communication withthe interior of the hollow piston valve 10 by its entry into the hollowguide 14, diminishing discharge of water through such channel 13, whichcauses the piston valve to come to rest in the normal positiondetermined by the intake of water through the pipe 16 and the dischargeof water through the pipe 15. Water leaking into the cylinder 9 from thenow open chamber inclosing the means C, past the rim 10a, will add .tothe pressure within the cylinder and the piston valve 10, but this willbe compensated by diminishing the intake at :sol

the valve device 17so that the valve 10 will in reality be in a positionof equilibrium determined by the positions of the valve devices 17 and20, the leakage, and the resistance to flow through the guide-incasedchannel 13a on the one hand, and the pressure of the water on the headof the valve 10 on the other hand. Thus, the piston valve 10 ismaintained at the proper height in accoidaiice with the opening of thevalve devices 17 and 20 and further in accordance with the head ofrwater supplied at the orifice a. After suoli head of water falls thepiston valve is permitted to assume a lower posi-tion,corresponding tothe diminished rate of discharge of water inthe orifice and the velocityof the water at such discharge orifice diminished by the action of themeans C, the water circulating through the grids f, in tortuous flow, itbeing baffied by such progress, setting up frictional retardation inwhich a portion of the kinetic energy of the water is converted intoheat, so that the water issuing fromvthc orifice b willbe at a lowervelocity than would be possiblewithout the interference pounding andother attack upon the werking parts of the water gate, tending to de*range or impair the working efficiency of the same.

- It willI be seen that as the piston valve 10 4descends or assumeslower stations of elevation, an increasingly smaller grid or baffle zoneis required to be traversed by the water fiowing through the casing 6.Thus, at higher heads', a greater baffle action takes place, inproportion to the greater requirement for converting kinetic energy intoheat to prevent attainment of a high velocity of the water. The bafflingaction, at any head of water, is thus properly proportioned to suchhead, b y the station of the piston valve 10, to provide the properenergy conversion for such head.

The entire device or apparatus is relatively compact in form and may beconveniently and effectually controlled, the manipulation of the valvemeans CZ and c being performed'manually or in any suitable manner; andon observation of changes in head of the water behind the dain or thelike the said valve means may be regulated to keep the working positionof the piston valve 10 be made with respect to the provision,construction and inter-relation of parts, members and'features, inpractising the inven-V tion, without departing fromthe spirit of theinvention and a fair interpretation thereof. i

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. improved apparatus of the character disclosed', comprising a chamberprovided with an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice,

valve meansA controlling traverse of said chamber by fiuid, means withinthe chamber for converting a portion of the kinetic energy of the fluidtraversing the chamberio into heat, andvmeans for controlling said valvemeans 'in accordance with variations in rate of fluid How; said valvemeansin the operation thereof providing for Vvariable action of saidsecond named means in accordance with variations in rateof fluid flow. i

2. Improved apparatus of the character disclosed, comprising a chamberprovided with an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice, valve meansVcontrolling traverse of said chamber by fluid, means within the chamberfor converting a portion of the Vkinetic energy of the fiuid traversingthe chamber into heat, andmeans for controlling said valve means inVaccordance with variations in rate of flow; said valve means in theoperation thereof providing for variable ac-l tion of said4 second namedmeans in accordance with variations in rate of fluid flow; said secondnamed means comprising a baffle device. v

3. Improved apparatus lof the character disclosed, comprising a chamberprovided with an inlet orifice andan outlet orifice, valve meanscontrolling traverse of said chamber by fluid, means within'thechaniberfor converting a portion of the kinetic energy of the fluid traversingthe chamber into heat, and means for controlling said valve meansinaccordance with variations in rate of flow; said valve meansprogressively limiting the zone of eective action of said energyconverting means in the actuation of said valve means. i Y

4f. Improved apparatus of the character disclosed, comprising a chamberprovided with an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice, valve meanscontrolling traverse of said chamber by fluid, means within the chamberfor converting a portion of the kinetic enname to this specification inthe presence of ergy of the fluid traversing the1 ehainloell twosubscribing Witnesses. into heat, and means for contro ling sai valvemeans; said converting means com- GEORGE S BINOKLEY' 5 prising surfacesmaterially extended laterally of the path of flow.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my Vitnesses ALFRED H. DAEI-ILER,TYCIE FULLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

